Introduction

The Bible teaches us that true Thanksgiving is identified or verified by a life of

daily thanks-living. Today even as another Thanksgiving day is around the corner,
let us consider how to lead a lifestyle of thanksgiving throughout the year. The
Bible mentions three biblical ingredients that are needed for leading such a
lifestyle.

1. Rejoice Always

A. In the Bible, the word “Rejoice” appears about 14 times. But I selected
Thessalonians 5:16-18 for a reason. In this verse, Paul commands the church of
Thessalonica to rejoice while she was in the middle of a severe wave of
persecution. Paul’s words may sound blunt but actually, it’s not.

B. Paul is speaking about joy, not happiness. Happiness is circumstantial and an

emotion which we can’t control. We will be spontaneously happy when our
circumstances are good but will be spontaneously miserable when the circumstances
are not.

C. Rejoicing, on the other hand, isn’t a spontaneous emotion but an intentional act
of faith. Habakkuk 3:17 teaches us that rejoicing is a decision we make. It’s the
first ingredient for a life of thanks-living.

2. Pray Continually

A. Paul then advises the Christians in Thessalonica to pray without ceasing. Paul
stresses it so much because prayer is the heavenly fuel that keeps the afore said
flame of joy burning even in times of trials.

B. The dictionary defines perseverance as “persistence in doing something despite

difficulty or delay in achieving success”. A direct reference to the concept of
persistent prayer is first seen in Luke 18:1-8. The Paul repeatedly urges us to do
the same in Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18 and Colossians 4:2.

C. Humans are results oriented and praying can be difficult when results delay.
They are wired to look for substitutes when a given avenue seems to have failed.
But unlike the world, we must pray persistently because Daniel 10:12 teaches us
that in the spiritual realm God answers our prayers the moment we start praying,
although we will not see results in our realm right away.

3. Give Thanks

A. In the Bible men of influence were also men who thanked God verbally, even when
in despair. Job thanked God when everything was lost, Jesus thanked the Father
before He fed 5000 people in the middle of nowhere. Paul and Silas thanked and
praised God from inside a prison cell in Philippi.

B. We meet such men outside the Bible also. St. Ignatius of Loyola has prayed he
may become agreeable bread to the Lord while he was being devoured alive by Lions.
John Hus while being burnt alive at the stake has prayed that God will have mercy
upon him.

C. Finally, I want to conclude by telling why we need to give thanks in everything.

The answer is in Philippians 4:7. Thanksgiving immunes our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus against circumstances which also nourishes our faith.

Conclusion
Even as I bring this sermon to a close let us close our eyes, bow down our heads
and make a fresh commitment for leading a life that gives thanks unto the Lord.